Led headlight bulb

b328xi · 07-22-2014, 07:28 AM

Hi,
i was searching around and could not find whether people have tried changing their low beam halogen to led bulb that has a fan on them (instead of HID) so i thought i would ask, has anyone tried something like below? It looks better than halogen but not as bright as HID however low initial current draw. Although i am not sure if the cover on the back of the headlights could close due to the fan/heatsink..

Something like this
http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...092805&alt=web

Thanks in advance..

LuxAngelEyes · 07-22-2014, 11:42 AM

I would highly not recommend to use those for On-Road use, especially as a low beam. Headlight reflectors are designed to focus on a specific spot on the headlight bulb. This LED kit will not have the same focus point and most likely will lead to light shining everywhere. This is why HID Kits are illegal in halogen headlights as well

dinanm3atl · 07-22-2014, 02:40 PM

Really depends on the housing itself and it's design. Every reflector type headlight is different. A friend of mine has an E30 track car that she randomly drives on the street. She put a similar kit into the H4 of that and it works really well. I was surprised. Almost zero glare too. It's a euro H4 style for E30.

b328xi · 07-22-2014, 03:20 PM

Yes, i am concerned about glare hence not thinking of HID. But i thought these type of LED have the same spot as halogen light output so perhaps it would not create glare. And wondered if anyone have tried them and verify if there was glare or install issue.

mweisdorfer · 07-23-2014, 02:23 PM

I would not spend 79.00 on 5000k only to blow a light bulb code either now or 6 months down the road when the resistor wears out.

Look into Philips Diamond halogen bulbs. You will get 5000 k for a fraction of the price

b328xi · 07-24-2014, 01:13 PM

Thats a good idea. I did not know that they have 5000k now.. thanks

Enlight · 07-26-2014, 06:31 PM

DO NOT get these for headlights. There are ZERO LED "headlight" systems on the market that are even remotely close to having the correct optics for low beam headlight use. You are much better off with an HID system.

There is so much mis-information and false advertising for the aftermarket lighting industry.

dinanm3atl · 07-31-2014, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enlight

DO NOT get these for headlights. There are ZERO LED "headlight" systems on the market that are even remotely close to having the correct optics for low beam headlight use. You are much better off with an HID system.

There is so much mis-information and false advertising for the aftermarket lighting industry.

Again it seems the results, output and glare is more dependent on the actual housing itself. Works quite well in fog lights and I was surprised how well the H4 fitment worked as well. Euro Hella E-Code.

Enlight · 07-31-2014, 11:50 AM

Indeed it is highly dependent on the housing, but the light source is so far off what a halogen filament is, it will either:
A: Put a lot of light in places it should not be if its a reflector housing (above the cutoff)
B: Most of the claimed light output will not make it onto the road if its a projector housing. Even if the cutoff appears to be sharp, most of the light never makes it out of the housing since it bounces around so many times in the incorrect orientation. Also, the beam pattern will still not be focused the way it should.

For fog lights it tends not to matter as much, but the beam pattern will still not be anywhere close to what it would be for a halogen or HID bulb.

LuxAngelEyes · 07-31-2014, 12:03 PM

a 1 or 2mm difference in the focus point of the bulb will make a Huge impact on the light pattern.. i would highly suspect that the LED would be more then 1-2 mm difference of its focus point.

Enlight · 07-31-2014, 12:34 PM

You are correct, the position of the source has a huge impact on what comes out of the headlight. One thing to consider is that a halogen bulb has a coil filament abour 1.5mm in diameter and 5mm long. It produces a radial emission pattern from that coil.

All of these LED "headlights" on the market have these massive 10mm or larger diameter COB emitters facing only 2 directions. Not only is the emitting surface several orders of magnitude more than a halogen filament, its emission not in a radial configuration.

I have many many hours trying to design an LED headlight that would match the optics of a halogen bulb and be at least 2x as bright. Only after tons of work did I realize I was battling a physics problem called etendue. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etendue

Unfortunately at this time LED technology is not at a point where the lumen density is high enough to get enough light in the right direction and meet SAE low beam emission pattern regulations. I have tried countless things, some of which came close, but just would not cut it for beam pattern or brightness.

07-22-2014, 07:28 AM	#1
b328xi New Member 7 Rep 27 Posts Drives: 2008 328xi Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: boston iTrader: (2)	Led headlight bulb Hi, i was searching around and could not find whether people have tried changing their low beam halogen to led bulb that has a fan on them (instead of HID) so i thought i would ask, has anyone tried something like below? It looks better than halogen but not as bright as HID however low initial current draw. Although i am not sure if the cover on the back of the headlights could close due to the fan/heatsink.. Something like this http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...092805&alt=web Thanks in advance..
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07-22-2014, 11:42 AM	#2
LuxAngelEyes BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 469 Rep 4,938 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Haven, CT iTrader: (13)	I would highly not recommend to use those for On-Road use, especially as a low beam. Headlight reflectors are designed to focus on a specific spot on the headlight bulb. This LED kit will not have the same focus point and most likely will lead to light shining everywhere. This is why HID Kits are illegal in halogen headlights as well __________________ LUX H8 189 Pure White \| LUX H8 V6 Adjustable White \| LUX H8 Gold LUX E90 V8 & LCI Halogen V4
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07-22-2014, 02:40 PM	#3
dinanm3atl Private First Class 99 Rep 198 Posts Drives: M3 ZCP 70 Olds 442 F31 Diesel Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Really depends on the housing itself and it's design. Every reflector type headlight is different. A friend of mine has an E30 track car that she randomly drives on the street. She put a similar kit into the H4 of that and it works really well. I was surprised. Almost zero glare too. It's a euro H4 style for E30.
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07-22-2014, 03:20 PM	#4
b328xi New Member 7 Rep 27 Posts Drives: 2008 328xi Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: boston iTrader: (2)	Yes, i am concerned about glare hence not thinking of HID. But i thought these type of LED have the same spot as halogen light output so perhaps it would not create glare. And wondered if anyone have tried them and verify if there was glare or install issue.
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07-23-2014, 02:23 PM	#5
mweisdorfer Major General 1903 Rep 6,968 Posts Drives: 2007 Black/Black 335i e90 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Holly, MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW E90 335i [0.00] 2008 bmw x5 [0.00]	I would not spend 79.00 on 5000k only to blow a light bulb code either now or 6 months down the road when the resistor wears out. Look into Philips Diamond halogen bulbs. You will get 5000 k for a fraction of the price
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07-24-2014, 01:13 PM	#6
b328xi New Member 7 Rep 27 Posts Drives: 2008 328xi Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: boston iTrader: (2)	Thats a good idea. I did not know that they have 5000k now.. thanks
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07-26-2014, 06:31 PM	#7
Enlight Banned 3 Rep 49 Posts Drives: 2012 335is Join Date: May 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	DO NOT get these for headlights. There are ZERO LED "headlight" systems on the market that are even remotely close to having the correct optics for low beam headlight use. You are much better off with an HID system. There is so much mis-information and false advertising for the aftermarket lighting industry.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-31-2014, 11:50 AM	#9
Enlight Banned 3 Rep 49 Posts Drives: 2012 335is Join Date: May 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	Indeed it is highly dependent on the housing, but the light source is so far off what a halogen filament is, it will either: A: Put a lot of light in places it should not be if its a reflector housing (above the cutoff) B: Most of the claimed light output will not make it onto the road if its a projector housing. Even if the cutoff appears to be sharp, most of the light never makes it out of the housing since it bounces around so many times in the incorrect orientation. Also, the beam pattern will still not be focused the way it should. For fog lights it tends not to matter as much, but the beam pattern will still not be anywhere close to what it would be for a halogen or HID bulb.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-31-2014, 12:03 PM	#10
LuxAngelEyes BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 469 Rep 4,938 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Haven, CT iTrader: (13)	a 1 or 2mm difference in the focus point of the bulb will make a Huge impact on the light pattern.. i would highly suspect that the LED would be more then 1-2 mm difference of its focus point. __________________ LUX H8 189 Pure White \| LUX H8 V6 Adjustable White \| LUX H8 Gold LUX E90 V8 & LCI Halogen V4
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07-31-2014, 12:34 PM	#11
Enlight Banned 3 Rep 49 Posts Drives: 2012 335is Join Date: May 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	You are correct, the position of the source has a huge impact on what comes out of the headlight. One thing to consider is that a halogen bulb has a coil filament abour 1.5mm in diameter and 5mm long. It produces a radial emission pattern from that coil. All of these LED "headlights" on the market have these massive 10mm or larger diameter COB emitters facing only 2 directions. Not only is the emitting surface several orders of magnitude more than a halogen filament, its emission not in a radial configuration. I have many many hours trying to design an LED headlight that would match the optics of a halogen bulb and be at least 2x as bright. Only after tons of work did I realize I was battling a physics problem called etendue. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etendue Unfortunately at this time LED technology is not at a point where the lumen density is high enough to get enough light in the right direction and meet SAE low beam emission pattern regulations. I have tried countless things, some of which came close, but just would not cut it for beam pattern or brightness.
	Appreciate 0 Quote